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Sunday, November 29, 1998 By Ray Fittipaldo, Post-Gazette Sports Writer
How good is Moon's defense?
Try this on for size: Yesterday, facing a 4,000-yard rusher and an offense that had been averaging 32.7 points per game, the Tigers allowed 98 yards and just six first downs to rout previously unbeaten Blackhawk, 34-7, in the WPIAL Class AAA championship game at Three Rivers Stadium.
Moon did not allow a first down until the final play of the third quarter. The Tigers have given up 48 points this season, 3.6 points per game. They have eight shutouts and the best scoring defense in the state.
It's been 11 years since a WPIAL defense has dominated in this fashion. North Hills allowed 20 points in 13 games and had 11 shutouts on its way to the WPIAL Class AAAA championship in 1987.
"As far as coaching goes, this is certainly the best team I've ever had, in terms of all 11 guys," Moon Coach Mark Capuano said. "I have been in awe of this team the whole season. I can't believe some of the plays these guys make."
Moon (11-2) avenged a 13-10 loss to Blackhawk in the second week of the season. Since that game, Moon has outscored its opponents, 299-35.
Moon will play Huntingdon in a PIAA Class AAA semifinal next weekend, site and time to be determined. Huntingdon beat Perry, 44-18, Friday night in a quarterfinal game.
Moon caused four turnovers, and returned two of them for touchdowns. Tim Morrow scooped up a fumbled Trent Wissner punt and returned it 57 yards for a score and Mickey Keene returned a Dane Helsing fumble, caused by Morrow, and returned it 36 yards.
"Causing turnovers was the one area we didn't seem to excel in this year," Capuano said. "But we did it [yesterday]."
Blackhawk had 17 yards at halftime and did not have a first down. Wissner, who came into the game with 1,594 yards, gained 43 yards on 12 carries and was not a factor.
It was fitting that Moon's first WPIAL football championship came against nemesis and arch-rival Blackhawk, a school that has dominated Moon. In 17 meetings before yesterday's game, Moon was 1-16 against Blackhawk.
"When I got back into coaching seven years ago, I said I wanted to get this program to where Blackhawk's is," Capuano said. "This means a lot to beat them."
The victory was Moon's first WPIAL championship of any kind in any of the major three sports - football, baseball and basketball.
"We have a lot of banners in our gym," Capuano said. "Our swimming team has been real successful. Our baseball team has won a couple of section titles. But we've never had a major title in football. We still have yet to win the conference, so this is certainly something we're going to remember the rest of our lives. Now we have to go get a banner to hang in the gym."
Blackhawk finished the season 11-1. The Cougars are four for six in WPIAL championships this decade.
Moon scored 21 points in the second quarter. Senior quarterback Pat Miller scored on a 7-yard run, Dave Olson on a 48-yard pass from Miller and Morrow made it 21-0 on the fumble return.
Olson was wide open on his touchdown. He went in motion and lost a Blackhawk defender.
"That was a little trickery," Capuano said. "That probably only would have worked if they were in man coverage. They just happened to be in man coverage."
The Tigers tacked on two field goals early in the second half and scored their final touchdown on Keene's fumble return.
Blackhawk scored on a Scott Mascher 10-yard run midway through the fourth quarter to avoid the shutout.
Moon senior running back Joe Tobin, who did not play in the first Blackhawk game, had 100 yards on 20 carries.
"Joe Tobin has been running very well for us," Capuano said. "He brought a different dimension to the game [yesterday]. Our offensive line did a great job, too."
Moon had 310 yards of offense, 167 yards rushing. Miller was 5 for 9 for 143 yards and a touchdown.
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